The affects of NERC are  still not quite fully understood.

 Two incidents in North Yorkshire  recently have caught out responsible TRF members who thought that "white roads" may have been lawful.  Sorry but they are not ! No harm done as farmers simply turned them away in both cases. 

Only Byways, and UCRs are normally OK to use.  A very few exceptions such as a valid Byway claim or a Five Year Main User lane can also exist. 

 See your TRF Rights of Way officer for details.

  Officially  UCRs, say most councils,"may" have vehicular rights. A few say that UCRs can be presumed to have vehicular rights.  Which is as good as you can get.

The

 TRF has a large amount of evidence just in case of any challenge!  It does happen ,which

 is why you need the TRF behind you !  Even UCRs are not 100% safe.

.

  White roads(ie uncoloured) are quite commonly to be found  on OS maps.  Coloured roads usually yellow can be assumed as UCRs on the List of Streets and without any doubt as to status being metalled.

To indicate UCRs the vast majority are shown on OS maps as "ORPAS" or  "Other

 Routes with Public Access" shown in red or green dots.  These are taken from the List of Streets(or UCRs) held by highway authorities.    So is all this clear ? To the new member it must be baffling beyond belief !

   I cannot think of a more complicated and misleading system that has emerged after 60 years of Government legislation designed to make things clear !

If

you are interested in history the l949 Act,l968 Act and the infamous

 2006 Countryside Acts,were all Labour Govt laws heavily influenced  by their friends the Ramblers Association.  

 One hell of a mess has resulted with all trail riders common law rights now taken away and

 the RA well satisfied with their Labour Party connections.

  The one pro trail riding Act (l981) was a Conservative Govt Countryside Act.   How many trail riders out there have voted for their own destruction ?  

BRIAN THOMPSON  2 JULY